Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 2 — RCT / large cohortPeer-reviewed

Oral Health Coaches at Well-Baby Clinics to Promote Oral Health in Preschool Children From the First Erupted Tooth: Protocol for a Multisite, Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

Peggy C. J. M. van Spreuwel, Katarina Jerković‐Ćosić, C. van Loveren, Geert J. M. G. van der Heijden

JMIR Research Protocols · 2022

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Summary

This pragmatic, multisite randomised controlled trial tests whether a Toddler Oral Health Intervention delivered by oral health coaches at well-baby clinics reduces early childhood caries incidence compared to conventional oral health education alone. The intervention combines evidence-based behavioural strategies for caries prevention and is delivered to parents of children aged 6–48 months in the Netherlands. The trial will provide evidence on the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of this preventive approach in a primary care setting.

UK applicability

Early childhood caries prevalence and prevention strategies are relevant to UK paediatric dental and primary care settings. The pragmatic trial design and integration with well-baby clinic infrastructure may inform implementation in UK health visiting and dental screening programmes, though health system structures and caries epidemiology differ between the Netherlands and United Kingdom.

Key measures

Cumulative caries incidence at 48 months; caries incidence density at 48 months; cost-effectiveness ratio; intermediate outcomes at 24 months

Outcomes reported

The study measures cumulative caries incidence and caries incidence density at 48 months of age in children receiving an oral health coaching intervention versus usual care. A cost-effectiveness evaluation is also planned.

Theme
Nutrition & health
Subject
Maternal, infant & child nutrition
Study type
Research
Study design
RCT
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Netherlands
System type
Human clinical
DOI
10.2196/39683
Catalogue ID
BFmor3gcn5-swtnoe

Topic tags

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